Wall assembly



APl'il 6, 1937 R. v. PARsoNs 2,075,955

` WALL ASSEMBLY l Filed April 24, 1935 Hummm:

lli

INVENTOR. y Raymond IPansons.

A TT ORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE to Johns-ManvilleCorporation,

New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 24, 1935, Serial No.17,942

13 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a wall assembly and particularly to meansfor sealing the joint between the edges of adjacent panels constitutingthe facing material of the assembly.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for U. S.Patent led January 29, 1932, Serial Number 589,723, for improvements ina Wall structure, Patent 2,010,412, issued` August 6, 1935. Portions ofthe -structure or methods of assembly not specifically described hereinmay be the same as described in the said previously iiled application.

In assembled walls, including partitions', ceilings, or the like, thereare used commonly supporting studs or beams and preformed panels offacing material secured thereto. There is need of means for preventingrattling at the joint portions of such walls, for minimizing the passageof air or sound through the joints, and for closing the joint, asagainst the passage therethrough of therefore, to close thejoint, evenwhen the joint undergoes moderateincreases or decreases in width.

It is an object of the present invention to provide joint sealing meansmeeting some or all of the above requirements. Other objects andadvantages will appear from the detailed description that follows.

Stated briefly, one embodiment of the invention comprises a wallassembly of the type described including resilently expansible sealingmeans disposed in the joints between the panels oi facing material andmaintained therein under compression, whereby the sealing member isadapted to increase in width, with increasing width of the joint, and tomaintain contact with the edges of adjacent panels between which thejoint is defined. Another embodiment of the invention comprises also asealing member and/or a wall assembly containing a sealing member havinga portion Wider than the joint to be closed by the member and extendingcontinuously therealong, a portion Wider than the joint engagedthrebehind, and a web element extending vthrough the joint, from frontto back, and joining the said two portions into an integral unit.Iii-another embodiment, the invention comprises a wall assemblyincluding a longitudinally extending joint and a sealing member havingthe wide portions and web member, as described, extending in the saidjoint, the portion of the sealing member engaged behind the jointextending slightly above the widev portion engaged in front of the 5joint, whereby any water that may obtain access to the jointis-prevented from owing over the rearward portion of the sealing member.

An embodiment of the invention that is preferred at this time isillustrated in the attached 10 drawing and the invention will bedescribed in connection therewith.

Fig. l shows a front elevational view of a portion of a wall assemblyconstructed in accordance with the invention; 15

Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;\

Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view of an as- 2o f sembly correspondingto. the central portion of an assembly similar to that shown in Fig. 2,but having a modified form of sealing member;l

Fig. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the joint portion of a wallassembly including a ship-lap 25 joint and a sealing member disposedtherein;

Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional View of another modification of the jointportion of a wall assembly having a special type of joint sealing andspacing member engaged therein; and 30 Fig. 7 shows a perspective of amoded form of sealing member, on an enlarged scale.

In the several figures like reference characters denote like parts.

The supporting substructure, as described in 35 detail in my saidpreviously filed application, is here denoted in general by A. Itincludes, suitably, a floor, upright studs, and accessories. Panels I offacing material, advantageously of a shaped, compressed and hardenedcomposition of 40 asbestos and Portland cement, are secured to thesubstructure, as by means described in the said application. Thesepanels on each face lie substantially in a plane and define jointsvbetween the edges of adjacent panels. Disposed in these joints 45 arethe sealing members 2.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, for example, the sealing member contains aportion 3, suitably in the form of a springy bead, Vthat is Wider thanthe mpst narrow part'\ of the joint, extends continuously 50 and isengaged in front thereof, a rear portion 4 that is also wider thanthejoint and is engaged therebehind. The portion 4 consists suitably ofcontinuous oppositely extending flanges contacting substantially overtheir entire width with 55- v25 the plane of the said surfaces.

the backs 'of the adjacent panels. A web element extends continuouslythrough the joint, from front to back, and unites the said wide portions3 and 4 into an integral unit. Suitably the web 5 element is composed oftwo legs 5 and 6 extending respectively, from opposite vsides of thespringy bead portion 3, which provides means for causing the legs tospread apart resiliently. As the panels I undergo change of dimensions,with changing atmospheric conditions, the legs 5 and 6 are forced closertogether or allowed to spread farther apart, to vary the effective widthof web of the sealing member and to provide resilient contact withadjacent edges of the said panels and to seal the joint, even though thejoint may undergo moderate changes in width.

'Ihe panels may be bevelled at the outer edge portions, as illustratedat 1, and the forward wide portion 3 of the sealing member may bedisposed between the bevelled edges of two adjacent panels, so that theoutermost part of the portion 3 is substantially flush with the plane ofthe outer surfaces of the panels I or lies in a plane not fartherremoved from the substructure than Such positioning of the sealingmember gives a desirable architectural effect and minimizes thelikelihood of injury to the forward portion of the sealing member. l 30At its rear portion the sealing member may lie directly in contact withthe face 8 of a stud or support constituting part of the substructureand be held thereby in rm contact with the panels.

`Or, as shown in Fig. 3, the sealing member may be engaged by the edgesonly of adjacent panels, as is the case at position 9 of Fig. 1. At thisposition the joint and the sealing member engaged therein extendhorizontally. If water 40 enters the joint above the forward portion 3of the sealing member, the water does not overflow the rear portion,inasmuch as the rear portion, being wider than' the forward portion,extends continuously slightly above the uppermost part 45 of the forwardportion and in this manner constitutes a seal against the entrance ofwater through the joint.

The bead joins the members 5 and 6 at an edge thereof.

In the modifications thus far described, the sealing member consistssuitably of a substantially railor T-shaped, continuous strip of metal,with the wider base of the T placed behind and fitting snugly againsttwo facing units, a web 55 member extending through the joint, and asmall bead at the exposed edge of the T, engaged in front of the saidunits, whereby accidental slip-4 page of the T-shaped member out ofposition is prevented and the joint is continuously sealed. e Thesealing member tends to maintain adjacent units of facing material linalignment and reenforces the joints, as at position 9 where there is nostud. 'I'he metal strip is reproof.

The assembly shown in Fig. 4 comprises .a 65 modied' form of continuoussealing member, adapted to be inserted from a forward position after thepanels have been secured in any suitable manner to the substructure.This sealing member has the wide forward portion 3, the legs "70 5 andiof the resilient web element, and a rear portion including outwardlyextending elements ofthe type of the out-turned heels I0, adapted tobecome readily engaged or disengaged behind the rearward edges of thevpanels defining the 75 joint, after the member has been inserted intothe joint. This result is accomplished, as illustrated, by having thecombined width of the heels measured transversely of the joint, slightlyless than the width of the joint opening. Y The assembly shown insection in Fig. includes panels I I meeting to form a ship-lap joint anda modified form of joint sealing member engaged therein. The sealingmember includes a Wide portion 3, such asy previously described, engagedin front of the joint, a web 'element I2, also of type previouslydescribed, extending from the portion 3 into the joint to the positionof a turn therein, and a rearward portion I3 integral with the said webelement I2 and extending from the said turn farther into the joint, in adirection at an angle to the element I2, whereby the sealing member. issecured in position. In making such an assembly, the panels II may besecured to a supporting structure in suitable manner. Thus, one' of thepanels may be secured, as by a nail I4, to a Wooden stud and the otherof the panels may be secured as by a screw I5 to a metal plate I6. Thelatter panel is then brought -near to the edge of the first panel, toleave a. wide joint therebetween. The sealing member is placed in thejoint, and the joint closed by moving the panel carrying the plate I6until the plate is engaged behind the other of the said panels, asillustrated at position I'I, and the sealing member is held tightly inposition. A

In the assembly shown in Fig. 6, the portion of the sealing memberengaged behind the joint is integral with a reenforcing element I8 ofthe type of a metal section having portions extending in at least twoplanes. Thus, the element I8 may consist of a hollow tube. Also thesealing member may be adapted to engage spaced panels constituting thetwo faces of the Wall. Each such sealing member may have wide portions 3and I9 engaged outside the joints of the two faces, webelements 2U and2I extending through the joints, and wide portions 22 and 23 integraleach with the reenforcing element I8 and, therefore, with each otherengaged behind the joints, on each side of the said wall. Furthermore,the combined rear portions and reenforcing element,- such as the hollowtube illustrated, may be sulciently Wide to contact with the insides ofthe 'panels 24 and 25 constituting the facing members of the wall. Insuch a structure, the sealing member serves also to space the" two sidesof the wall at the edges of the panels and to maintain constantvrelationship therebetween, as'well as to provide substantial rigidityto the structure.

Normally, the sealing membersv shown in Figs.A

If desired, the panels 24 and 25 on the two sides v of the wall may beunited to a core filling material 21, to constitute, in effect, unitarypanels, each of substantial thickness, extending fromA one face of thewall to the other face and provided with grooved edges in which therear-portions of the sealing member and the reenforcing element areengaged, as described, the combined rear portions and reenforcingelement being substantially of the same width as that ofthe engaginggroove.

whereby these portions-of the sealing member are caused to contact withthe side walls of the groove.

In making the assembly shown in Fig. 6, the

sealing member is arranged at the edge portion of a grooved panel or ofpanels in the two series thereof constituting the two faces of the wall;the other panel is then brought up, in edgewise manner, to engage thesealing member and hold it, as illustrated.

It is understoodthat any suitable type of supporting substructure may beused and that such substructure does not constitute apart of the presentinvention.

'I'he above description and specific examples are to be taken asillustrative only. Any variation or departure therefrom which conformsto the spirit of the invention is intended to be included within thescope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A wall assembly comprising in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing material supported thereon and forming a. joint betweenthe edges of adjacent` panels, a fireproof joint sealing memberincluding a portion wider than the joint and engaged therebehind, aportion wider than the joint and engaged in front thereof, and a webelement including two resiliently deformable legs, extending through thejoint from front to back, and joining the said portions into an integralunit, the said joint sealing member comprising means for spreading thetwo legs apart by spring action intoresilient contact with the edges ofthe panels constituting the '35 sides of the joint, to maintain contactbetween the said legs and the said edges as the width of the jointvaries moderately.

2. A wall assembly comprising in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing ma- 40 terial supported thereon and forming a jointbetween the edges of adjacent panels,'a joint sealing member including aportion wider than the joint and engaged therebehind, a portion widerthan the joint and engaged in front thereof,

'45 and a web V element extending through the joint from` front to backVand joining the said portions into an integral unit, the said. portionengaged behind the joint including a reinforcing element of4 the,l typeo f a formed metal section extending in at least two planes.

3. A wall assembly comprising in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing matel rial supported thereon, forming a joint betweenthe edges of adjacent panels, and provided with a.

groove in each of the said edges, with the open face of each grooveturnedI towards the said joint,

and a joint sealing member including a Wide portion engaged in front ofthejoint, a wide portion engaged in the said grooves, andeI web elementextending through the joint from face to back and joining the saidportions into an integral unit.

4. A wall assembly comprising in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing material supported thereon, forming a joint between theedges of adjacent panels, and provided with a groove in each of the saidedges, with the open face of each groove turnedv towards the said joint,

` and a joint sealing member including a wide portionengaged in front ofthe joint, a wide portion engaged in the saidgrooves,l and a web elementextending through the joint from face 'to 'back and joining the saidportions into an integral unit, the said portion engaged in the grooveincluding, a reenforcing element of the type of a formed metal sectionextending in at least two planes and being of -overall widthapproximately the same as the groove.

5. A wall assembly includingin combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing material supported thereon and forming between theedges of adjacentlpanels a joint having a turn therein and being Iof thetype of a ship-lap, and a joint sealing' member including a portionwider than the joint engaged in front thereof, a web element secured tothe said portion and extending into the joint approximately to the turntherein, and another portionunited to the rearward edge of the webelement, extending rearwardly therefrom, and being engaged in the jointbeyond the said turn.

6. A wall assembly including in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing material supported thereon, provided with bevelledouter y edge portions, and forming a joint between the bevelled edges ofadjacent panels, 'and a joint sealing member including a portion widerthan the joint at the most narrow portion thereof disposed between thesaid bevelled edges and, at the outermost part of the said portion,lying substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the panels, anotherportion wider than the joint and engaged therebehind, and a web elementextending through the said joint from front to back and connecting thesaid two portions into an integral unit.-

7. A wall assembly including in combination a supporting substructure,panels of facing material supported thereon, provided with bevelledouter edge portions, and forming a joint between the bevelled edges ofadjacent panels, and a joint sealingvmember including a portion widerthan the joint at the most narrow portion thereof disposed between thesaid bevelled edges and, at the outermost part of the said portion,lying in a. plane not farther removed 'from the substructure than theplane of the outer surfaces of the panels, another portion wider thanthe joint and engaged therebehind, and a web element extending throughthe said joint from front to back and connecting the said two portionsinto an integral unit.

8. A wall assembly, adapted to prevent the flowing of water throughhorizontal joints in the wall, comprising in combination a supportingsubstructure, panels of facing material supported thereon and forming ahorizontal extending jointbetween the 'edges of adjacent panels, asealing member engaged within the joint,a portionof the said memberwider than the joint and engaged in front thereof, another portion widerthan 9. A wall 'assembly comprising 'in combination' 'a supportingsubstructure, two series of panelsof facingv material spaced from eachother, con-- stituting the two faces of a wall supported on --the saidsubstructure and forming joints between/the edges of adjacent panels inboth of the said faces, and joint sealing and spacing members engaged inthe said joints, the saidmembers including each portions wider than the10. A wall assembly comprising in combina.

tion a supporting substructure, two series of panels of facing materialspaced from each other, constituting the two faces of a wall supportedon the said substructure and forming joints between the edges ofadjacent panels in both of the faces, and joint sealing and spacingmembers engaged in the said joints, the said members including,v

portions wider than the joints engaged outside thereof, web elementsintegral with the said Wide portions and extending through the jointsfrom face to back, and rear portions integral with the web elementsincluding a reenforcing member of the type of a formed metal sectionextending in at least two planes and contacting with the two insidefaces `of the wall at the joint portion thereof.

11. A reproof sealing member, adapted to close the joint betweenadjacent units of facing material in an assembled wall, comprising aportion wider than the joint and adapted to be-engaged in front thereof,a portion Wider than the joint and adapted to be engaged therebehind, a

web element comprising two resiliently deformable legs adapted to extendthrough the joint and uniting the said portions into an integralarticle, and means for spreading apart resiliently the said two legs,whereby the said means are adapted to maintain contact of the said legswith edges of the said facing units, as the joint therebetween variesmoderately in width.

12. A wall assembly of the type described comprising in combination asupporting substructure, panels of facing material supported thereon anddefining joints between the edges of adjacent panels, a sealing memberclosing the said joint and including a springyportion engaged in frontof the said joint, two legs extending from different parts of the saidspringy portion, extending through the joint and adapted to be spreadapart by the said springy portion, and outwardly extending elementsconstituting heels on the rear portions of the said legs, the combinedWidth of the heels being slightly less, measured transversely of thejoint, than the width of the joint, so that the heels may be passedthrough the joint and be engaged or disengaged readily behind the edgeof the panels.

13. A sealing member, adapted to close the joint between adjacent unitsof facing material in an assembled wall, comprising a portion Wider thanthe joint and adapted to be engaged in front thereof, a portion widerthan the joint and adapted to be engaged therebehind, a web elementcomprising two legs adapted to extend through the joint and uniting thesaid portions into an integral article, and means including a springmember between the said legs for spreading apart resiliently the saidtwo legs, whereby the said means are adapted to maintain contact of thesaid legs with edges of the said facing umts, as the joint therebetweenvaries moderately in width.

Y RAYMOND V. PARSONS.

